Don't Worry

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Don't worry! God is good. Where are your thoughts focused today? I am only asking because many times I need to be reminded that God is in control. That He is taking care of my every need. I need to be reminded that He is right here, right now and always. This verse is one of my very favorites because of what it says. God is taking care of the birds and every creature in this world. He cares that much! He loves us that much! So we can relax and allow God to be the God of our lives. Now this isn't an excuse to not accomplish anything today. However it is a wonderful reason to do whatever God has placed before us to do today, for His Glory. If We keep our eyes on Him, we can't go wrong!

Blessings-
Alane Brown
info@ChristianWomenNow.com
http://www.christianwomennow.com/

Who We Are

This was in a Bible Study by Beth Moore. It's something that I actually printed out and keep in my office above my desk so it can be read each day. Often I hang a verse or two around the house to help me stay close to God for that day and to assist in memorization but this has been left right where it was first placed, for more than a year now, because it still speaks loudly to me.

A Declaration of who I am before God

I (insert your name here) belong to God.
I am a Holy Vessel because I house the
Holy Spirit of the living God.

The Lord of heaven and earth has said over me -
“I declare you holy”.

Today I commit to start believing what He says.
I am holy.
Empower me daily, Spirit of the living God,
to treat myself as holy.

Open my eyes to every scheme of the enemy -
to treat me as if I’m not.

You, God, are God.
Your word is truth.
This day, Father, I choose to believe you.
In Jesus name -
Amen and Amen.

Blessings-
Alane D Brown

Do You Like Blogging?

Lately I’ve taken to learning new things about the internet, more specifically; searching for ways to make money working from home using the internet. A recent discovery is http://www.blogsvertise.com/ it offers a way for bloggers to get paid for blogging about their favorite topics!

Understand that there are plenty of scams out there, so please, do your own due diligence on each opportunity you find! Also remember this about making money on the internet; what works for one person may or may not work for the next. So please, do NOT take what I have to say as anything more than a suggestion.

I have found that I LOVE to blog! Not everyone likes to blog but if you DO like blogging then you may wish to go ahead and check out http://www.blogsvertise.com/ Advertisers want bloggers to talk about their products and services and pay people to do so.

http://www.blogsvertise.com/ is just one of several Paid Blogging Websites. If you enjoy blogging - you may as well get paid for it!

I am very interested in hearing about what you find out there.
-Or-

If you have any questions - I will assist you the best I can.
Blessings-
Alane D Brown

Forgiveness

Forgiveness
Forgiveness is an essential part of my relationship to God. It sets me free and takes me closer to Him, which is where I not only wish to be but need to be.
In fact the Bible says in Mark 11:25 AMP “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you…”
Sometimes we are wounded or hurt. Sometimes others mistreat us or betray us. Unfortunately, that is just part of the world we live in.
Let me just speak for myself – Yes, I have been wounded, hurt, mistreated and betrayed. Frankly, I have been on both sides, both perpetrator and victim of such behaviors. When I seek the Lord and ask Him to forgive me for my “bad” behavior – I also need to seek His forgiveness any bad feelings I have towards others and to allow His love to enter my heart.
When I allow that type of forgiveness to really enter my heart – my forgiveness is complete and there is peace in my soul.
This is not something that always comes easy for me. What are your thoughts on forgiveness?

God is our only answer

Personal Struggles-
We all have them. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one who gets caught up in such things. I look around and assume my Christian friends have it all together. I compare my insides and what I am feeling with their outsides. What nonsense – what a waste of time. Most often when I get “caught up in life”, what I am actually stuck in is myself and my own self reliance.
A friend recently reminded me of this when she said, “I am always here if you want to talk. I don't have all the answers, but I am well connected with the One who does!!! Remember always you are deeply loved!”
It’s great to have friends to talk things over with because they can remind us of our true source for truth and guidance. - God.

Do you ever get caught up in things like I do and temporarily forget Who has all the answers you need?

Maybe you have never turned to God before for answers. That's okay too. You can begin today! If that's something you would like assistance with or you have a specific prayer request - send an email to info@ChristianWomenNow.com or leave a comment right here on the blog. There are many people who would love to be in prayer with you and for you.
Blessings-
Alane D Brown

Clinging to Crutches

A woman I know recently broke her leg in a skiing accident and has had to rely on crutches for a while. This type of crutch is not only helpful but necessary. However, there are other types of crutches that are not so helpful. Relying on something other than God to support us through our pain is called a crutch, and it actually extends the healing time. Many years ago, I had a crutch to help me with a fear of being alone, only I didn’t recognize it until God took it from me.

Over a period of two and a half years, I lived with a sense of fear and dread whenever my husband would travel. It started as a fear of being home alone and developed into a fear of him not returning. Just the thought of him going away sent me into a panic. The crutch I relied on was to stay with my parents, even though I didn’t sleep well there and cried every night after my husband's phone call. My day of liberation did finally come though, and I went from being crippled with fear to being crutch free.

Three days before one of my husband's trips, my parents announced that they would also be away. Panic immediately set in as I scrambled to find other crutches. I found none. Once I determined that I had no choice but to face this fear head on, I started praying. I shared my fear with a few women, not knowing if they would think my fear was ridiculous or take it seriously. They listened, prayed for me with sincerity and committed to pray for me while my husband was away. What an amazing gift I had received! Those women actually took my deep concern seriously and prayed for me in earnest. In the early evening of my husband's departure, I started to feel anxious and began to pray and read my Bible. A peace started to grow inside of me that I never had in that situation before. Later that evening one woman who had prayed for me called so I wouldn’t feel alone. The phone call and the prayers of my friends gave me strength to keep praying and trusting God. Whenever I awoke that night and felt fearstarting to creep in I would pray "God, please help me," and the fear would immediately go away! The sense of freedom and joy I had in the morning was incredible! I am so glad He took away my crutches so I had no choice but to trust Him.

Do you use crutches that keep you from relying on God for support? Perhaps you talk about your "problems" with friends, over and over again. Maybe you use alcohol to mask pain or overeat to soothe your emotions. There are many crutches but none of them can give restoration and joy like God can. I know that learning to trust God takes time and courage. An important step to developing trust is getting to know His character, how He has cared for people throughout time and the promises He has made to those who love Him. All of this can be found in the Bible and can often be heard in the testimonies of others. With God, you can be crutch free.

"Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,

Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

Be blessed-

Jeanine Black

Finding a Father

Growing up in my home with my family wasn't always easy. Certainly I'm not writing to complain all these years later. In fact, I am who I am today because of my past and that includes both the good and the bad and I happen to think that I’m pretty cool and very "Okay". Anyways, tons of people have grown up in difficult situations, I just happen to be one of them.

One of the things that made growing up in my home complicated was my father's abusive behavior. I was the only girl of four children and desperately wanted a sweet, kind, loving dad like all my friends had. In fact it was something that I cried about more than often.

There were many nights that I cried because of some type of physical pain I had endured but the deepest of that pain came simply because it had been my dad who had inflicted the hurts upon me to begin with. There were many nights he hadn't physically touched me at all, but still I cried because there was no hug, no bed-time story and no love. As awful as things became (speaking of the physical abuse) I STILL wanted him to love me and I desperately just wanted to hear – “I love you Alane” but it never happened.

So I grew up for the most part without the love of a father - so imagine what it felt like to someone like me when I read in the Bible one day…” And I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” ( 2 Corinthians 6:18) My eyes lit up and my heart jumped inside my chest! I had found my true Father and He did want me and most importantly He did love me.

It took some time to understand all that this meant but for me it was some of the best news I had ever heard. I needed a dad. Someone to talk to, someone who would listen, someone who would love me no matter what and that is exactly the type of relationship I share with my Daddy in Heaven today.

Just sharing the happiness I have in my heart this morning…

and wondering - Do you need the love of God in your life today?
Blessings
Alane D. Brown